Canterbury University engineering students will launch rockets this year as part of the country's first rocket course.
The course will be run by the university's department of electrical and computer engineering and supervised by a research and development company, Rocket Lab.
Senior lecturer Chris Hann says students will design and implement all elements of the rocket and launch, including parachute recovery, and the course will train them for entering the New Zealand space industry.
He says the rockets will be about 1.5 metres long and capable of reaching speeds of 500km an hour and altitudes of 800 metres.
